What Is The Best Dog Food for a Rottweiler?

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Rottweilers often have a fierce reputation but they can make excellent family pets and companions. While they are often very good guard dogs, the breed is very versatile. They are also used for herding livestock, search and rescue, as guide dogs, and, in the past, they were used to pull carts. They are intelligent and quite clownish at home. With good socialization these dogs can be wonderful pets. They are robust dogs but they do have a few health issues that can benefit from watching their diet.

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Nutritional Needs

Rottweilers are medium-large dogs weighing between 75 and 130 pounds, depending on whether they are male or female and other factors. They usually stand between 22 and 27 inches tall at the withers (top of the shoulder blades). They are about the same height as a Doberman Pinscher but they are bulkier. They have an appearance of strength and power. Females are usually a little smaller than males and will look more feminine while the males look masculine.

Quick Look : Top 3 Recommended Dog Foods for Rotties

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$1.41/lb
Orijen Adult Dog Grain-Free Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$2.76/lb
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$2.07/lb

Rottweilers are somewhat inclined to put on weight, especially as they get older, so it’s important to watch how much you feed and count calories. Rotties need to get plenty of exercise throughout their lives in order to stay fit. Fortunately, Rotties enjoy exercise and they are very playful, especially when they are young. They usually get along well with other animals, including other dogs. If you take the time to socialize your Rottweiler while he is young, he should be welcome to play with other dogs. Good training is important for all dogs, especially large, powerful dogs.

By weight, the National Research Council of the National Academies recommends an average daily caloric intake of about 2100 calories for an active adult Rottweiler weighing 90 pounds. Dogs that have been spayed/neutered, or that are older, may need fewer calories. Some dogs may need more calories depending on their level of activity and their individual metabolism. Growing puppies, for example, consume more calories than adult dogs and so do young adult dogs. A young adult Rottie weighing about 70 pounds, for example, and getting lots of exercise would need about 1,876 calories per day (and more as he grows and gains weight). However, if your Rottweiler tends to lie around the house all day with little opportunity to exercise, he would need fewer calories.

Like all dogs, Rottweilers require good quality protein. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommends a minimum of 22 percent protein for growth (puppies) and 18 percent protein for maintenance in adult dogs. These percentages are recommended for dogs in general. Most good quality dog foods will exceed these percentages. Fat is an important source of energy for dogs and should comprise at least 8 percent of the diet for Rottweiler puppies and 5 percent of the diet for adults. Most dog foods today have more fat than these percentages. Fat also adds flavor to dog food and makes it very appealing to your dog. Fats are also one of the sources of fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 which are good for your dog’s skin, coat, heart, and brain.

Special Issues

Rottweilers are a generally healthy breed. Like many large dogs, they can have problems with hip dysplasia. Elbow dysplasia can also be an issue, as well as osteochondritis dessicans (which often affects the elbow and shoulder). OCD occurs when the smooth cartilage that normally allows two bones to move against each other without friction grows abnormally, tears, develops calcium spurs, or has some other problem that keeps the cartilage from protecting the bones. This causes the dog pain and usually results in some lameness. It often requires surgery to repair the problem. It often occurs in large breeds that grow rapidly – one of the reasons why people with large and giant breeds are encouraged to feed special puppy food for these breeds and aim for slower growth.

Since hip and elbow dysplasia are common in the breed, Rottweiler puppies should be fed a puppy food specifically designed for large and giant breed puppies to help slow growth. Slower growth is believed to help prevent bone and joint problems later in life – problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondrosis dessicans. Adult Rottweilers should be fed a good quality adult food that is moderate in protein and fat.

Rottweilers are prone to gaining weight so owners need to watch out for dogs that become overweight or obese. Obesity can lead to a number of health issues such as diabetes mellitus, respiratory problems, cardiac problems, and it can worsen arthritis and joint mobility issues. Measure how much you are feeding and don’t free feed this breed. Feed puppies 2-3 meals per day until they are old enough to eat adult food. Most people feed adult Rottweilers two meals per day. Keeping your Rottweilers slim and providing regular exercise for good muscle tone can help discourage joint and bone problems later. Carrying extra weight is one of the precipitating factors for developing arthritis and hip/elbow dysplasia.

Rottweilers don’t usually have many gastrointestinal problems, though some may occasionally have a case of diarrhea or gas. Bloat occasionally occurs in Rottweilers but it is not very common. Occasionally a Rottweiler may have issues with allergies, like any dog, but it’s not particularly common in the breed.

Cancer tends to be a serious problem in Rottweilers and is a common cause of early death. In addition, as with some other black and tan breeds, parvovirus can strike Rottweilers very hard. It’s important to make certain that puppies are thoroughly protected from a very young age and to maintain your dog’s parvo vaccination throughout his lifetime. Rottweilers tend to have a shorter lifespan than many breeds, usually living between 8 and 10 years. Feeding your Rottie a healthy diet can help strengthen his immune system. Many people try to specifically avoid artificial preservatives and other added chemicals in their dog’s diet to keep the immune system strong in the belief that keeping the diet as natural as possible is better for their dog.

Ingredients To Look For

Rottweilers require good quality protein in their diet, like every dog. Of course, not all protein and fat are the same. It’s important that these nutrients come from good quality ingredients. You can give your dog lots of protein but if it’s not from a good quality source, his body won’t be able to use it efficiently.

Ideally, a good dog food will feature a couple of meat proteins in the first several ingredients. The first ingredient should not be grain or some other carbohydrate. Both whole meats and meat meals are good sources of protein. Whole meats refer to ingredients such as whole chicken, beef, fish, and lamb. However, whole meats also contain lots of water. If the water from these meats were removed, they would be found lower on the ingredient list. This is because dog food companies are required by law to list ingredients by weight before cooking. The water in whole meats makes them weigh more. Some people don’t like meat meals as much as whole meats but they are a concentrated form of the meat in which the water has already been removed. They contain several times as much protein as a whole meat. Meat meals are usually very good as one of the first ingredients in a premium quality dog food. They are found in many good dog foods. Less desirable are meat “digests” or “by-products.”

Dogs also need fat from good sources. Some vitamins are only fat-soluble and your dog needs them in his diet. But fat, like protein, varies in quality depending on the source. You should look for named fat sources such as chicken fat. Other named fats also provide needed nutrients such as fish oil which can provide omega-3 fatty acid to help keep the skin and coat healthy.

Dogs that are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia may benefit from supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin and other joint supplements. These supplements are often added to dog foods for large breed dogs, though whether they are actually added in large enough amounts to help a dog with a joint problem is debatable. If your dog does have a joint problem, arthritis, or dysplasia, you can talk to your veterinarian about a good supplement. You can buy these supplements at the drug store. They are the same kind of supplements that humans take for joint pain. Your dog may benefit more from these supplements if you give them to him separately from his food.

Best Dog Food For Rottweilers 2017

There are lots of good foods that you could choose to feed your Rottweiler but we have selected several that you might consider.

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Taste of the Wild Wetlands Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$1.41/lb
Orijen Adult Dog Grain-Free Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$2.76/lb
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$2.07/lb

Also Try:

Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Venison, Turkey & Lamb Dog Food

Gluten-free, all life stages, antioxidants, added taurine.

First five ingredients: Venison, Turkey Meal, Brown Rice, Oats, Potatoes

Guaranteed Analysis

Dry Matter Basis: Protein 25 percent; fat 14.4 percent; fiber 5.6 percent; carbohydrates 46.1 percent.

Calorie Content (calculated): ME =  3,650 kcal/kg, 350 kcal/8 oz cup

AAFCO-approved for all life stages.

What About Rottweiler Puppies?

For Rottweilers puppies, the brands listed above also have large breed puppy formulas or you could feed the all life stage formulas once the puppies get a little older.

Some good puppy foods you may consider for your Rottweiler puppy include:

Food	Price	Nutrition	Rating
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dry Puppy Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$1.53/lb
Orijen Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$2.80/lb
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Puppy Food Customer ReviewsWhere To Buy	$2.18/lb

You will notice that these foods are not grain free. Many experts feel that it is not advisable to feed growing puppies a grain free diet, especially large breed puppies. They suggest you should wait until puppies are older before switching to grain free. There are some beneficial nutrients in some grains. Oatmeal, barley, and other grains can provide some protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Even corn, in moderation, can provide some good nutrients. Many grains have been bashed on the Internet for the wrong reasons. For example, grains are not particularly allergenic. Proteins cause allergies and your dog is more likely to be allergic to beef or chicken than the protein in corn. The problem with corn was that it was being overused in many pet foods and companies were not using meat protein. The same thing can happen to any ingredient that is used on a widespread basis. It’s probably only a matter of time before some dogs become allergic to peas which are being widely used now in place of grains. These grain substitutes have their own issues.

Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Puppy Health Lamb Meal & Oatmeal Recipe (Dry)

Blend of meat proteins and grains; includes DHA for brain development; easy to digest.

First five ingredients: Lamb Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Chicken Meal, Dried Beet Pulp

Guaranteed Analysis

Dry Matter Basis: Protein 25.6 percent; fat 13.33 percent; fiber 3.9 percent; carbohydrates 48.33 percent.

Calorie Content: This food contains 3,529 kcal per kilogram or 375 kcal per cup ME (metabolizable energy) on an as fed basis (calculated).

AAFCO-approved for growth.

The protein percentages for large and giant breed puppies are probably lower than you are used to seeing but, again, this is because these large breed puppy foods are designed to encourage slow growth. They are not meant to see how fast or how big they can encourage a puppy to grow – which can lead to hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis later in life.

Below is the list of products reviewed in this article

1. Taste of the Wild Wetlands Dog Food
2. Orijen Adult Dog Grain-Free Dog Food
3. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food
4. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Dry Puppy Food
5. Orijen Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Puppy Food